On Monday, October 19, APGA’s
2020 Operations Conference began with opening remarks from APGA Operations & Safety Committee Chairman Carl Smith from Greenville Utilities Commission, and APGA President & CEO Dave Schryver. Carl’s remarks set the tone for the three-week virtual conference reminding APGA members that, “I am proud to be part of an industry that comes together when the need is there and I am thankful to have associations like APGA to help provide guidance. Operators have remained focused on keeping safety a top priority for their employees, communities and infrastructure while providing reliable, and cost-effective natural gas to customers through this critical time.”
Guest speakers on the first day included Alan Mayberry, Associate Administrator of Pipeline Safety from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), Mark Baker, Vice President of Workplace at the National Safety Council, Paula Glover, President & CEO of the American Association of Blacks in Energy and the next President & CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy, and Daryl Brister, President of Shea Capability & Compliance Solutions.
Mr. Mayberry shared some of PHMSA’s policy priorities for the balance of 2020 and into 2021. He encouraged operators to embrace the concepts within Pipeline Safety Management Systems and encouraged operators to engage with their public stakeholders on pipeline safety versus only ensuring they are aware of potential safety concerns. Paula Glover provided attendees with valuable insight on the importance of not only promoting diversity in your workforce, but also ensuring the culture at your system enables inclusion and equity for all employees. Daryl Brister provided a case study on the importance of training your skilled workers, especially the next generation of workers. In the case study, the dedication to training and culture change led to a dramatic decrease in workplace injuries.
APGA thanks the 33 presenters, 36 sponsors, and close to 200 participants, for making this event a success.
Registration will remain open for the duration of the conference to allow members to participate in future sessions at a discounted rate. All registrations will have access to all recorded presentations at the conclusion of the conference.
For questions on this article, please contact Erin Kurilla of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
ekurilla@apga.org.